State of the Air: ILLINOIS

Shakeila’s passion for Moms Clean Air Force is simple. As an African-American woman, she was not exposed to the conversation about climate, the environment or its effect on our health until adulthood. As a devout Christian and advocate, Shakeila endeavors to spread awareness about the issues that directly affect generations to come. She is a native of South Carolina, where she resides with her husband, 3 children and loving miniature Goldendoodle.

Here’s what we’re working on in Illinois:

Moms Clean Air Force Ilinois brings attention to issues and policies that impact clean air, climate change and children’s health. We fight for a world free of harmful chemicals in our air, water and food, so children can grow up healthy with every opportunity to thrive. We educate and activate moms and their families to work with local, state and federal leaders to advance clean air policies and climate solutions. We are building a community of moms who care by meeting with elected officials, organizing and attending local events, speaking at community meetings and press conferences, and serving as a media resource on behalf of our children’s and community’s health. By collectively speaking out against air pollution and climate change, we are creating a powerful force in Illinois that is rooted in the love we have for our children.

We are fighting climate change and air pollution in Illinois by standing behind policies that support cleaner air and stronger emissions standards. Moms Clean Air Force Illinois is a member of strong state coalitions that are working together to support compliance of America’s Clean Power Plan and a strong state implementation plan.

A huge amount of energy transportation and creation occurs in Illinois, as the state is a center for pipelines of natural gas and crude oil. The production, processing, and transportation of crude oil also leaves Illinois at risk for rail disasters of epic proportions. Illinois is home to two of 44 coal ash sites that the EPA has classified as “high hazard,” leaving our population and natural resources vulnerable from spills and contamination. One coal ash site is less than a half mile from the shore of Lake Michigan, one of Illinois most cherished and visible natural resources.

Illinois borders the world’s largest group of freshwater lakes on earth, the Great Lakes. Source of drinking water to more than 40 million people, the Great Lakes are threatened by pollution and declining water levels, which is already resulting in increased algal bloom production. Scientists predict that climate change will cause water levels in the Great Lakes to drop significantly in coming decades, threatening this source of not only vital drinking water, but also transportation, tourism, commercial fishing operations, manufacturing operations, and sportsmen industries. This is another way that Illinoisans understand the personal, immediate impacts of climate change on our homes and communities.

The increase in severe weather in Illinois has caused a lot of damage in the form of flooding, heavy rainfall, and tornadoes. The dozens of gas pipelines and natural gas production centers in Illinois have caused a large amount of methane emissions that are currently unregulated on the state or federal level. Illinois’s location makes it not only an energy crossroad, but also a crossroad for rail, truck, car and air traffic. The long hot summers, exacerbated around the heat islands in Chicago and East St. Louis, turn all of these motor vehicle emissions into smog, or ground level ozone–lung irritants that can trigger asthma attacks, interfere with normal lung development, and increase the incidence of respiratory infections for residents in Illinois.

Currently, the rate of asthma in Illinois is 13%, higher than the national average. The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America ranks Chicago in the top 10% of “the most challenging places to live with asthma.” Asthma is hitting the frontline neighborhoods in Chicago harder than in many other places in the nation, with asthma rates in some neighborhoods soaring as high as 33%. As the climate gets hotter, air pollution, allergies, and temperature will trigger more asthma attacks in children.

Although Illinois generates a huge volume of energy, some of which is exported via two primary grids to other states, Illinois can’t export the emissions and pollution that the energy production and transportation creates. One of the bi-products of coal-fired power plants is mercury, and in a study completed by Illinois PIRG in 2006, it was discovered that of 804 fish samples taken statewide, over 30% of the samples were found to have unsafe levels of mercury for women of average weight and children under the age of 8, who eat fish twice a week.

In Illinois, Moms Clean Air Force is a part of several statewide coalitions fighting for cleaner air, including the Illinois Climate Table and the Illinois Clean Jobs Coalition. Moms Clean Air Force works continually with these groups to develop and execute a tactical plan to inform members, residents, and elected officials of the needed changes to energy production and the desire to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in our state.

Moms Clean Air Force Programs in Illinois

Our Moms & Mayors program connects moms with their mayors and local leaders to improve children’s health and build resilient communities. We educate, empower and mobilize Moms in their hometowns to work with their local elected leaders to implement clean air strategies, reduce toxins in the community and take action on climate change. We also train Moms to join boards and commissions and urge them to run for office.

Our Baby Power program educates and engages expectant and new moms on our issues with the message: every baby has the power to make you want to change the world.

In addition to state-specific work, Moms Clean Air Force Illinois is supporting national campaigns:

Stopping the Rollbacks of Environmental Protections: We are working hard to oppose the assaults on our bedrock environmental laws by the Trump Administration and the EPA Administrator, including:

Climate Change: We are fighting the Trump Administration’s attempt to repeal America’s Clean Power Plan that sought to reduce carbon emissions, decrease dangerous co-pollutants, and achieve the goals of the Paris Climate Accord.

Smog: We are opposing the Trump Administration’s EPA proposal to weaken national smog standards.

Clean Cars: We are opposing the Trump Administration’s attempt to roll back sensible fuel-efficiency standards for cars and light trucks. The current clean car standards would prevent 6 billion metric tons of greenhouse gas pollution by 2025 and save American families $1.7 trillion in fuel costs.

Mercury: We are opposing the attempt by the Trump Administration to loosen regulations that reduce the harmful mercury emissions from coal-fired power plants.

Chemical Policy Reform: We are fighting to implement the Lautenberg Chemical Safety Act (2016) that keeps toxic chemicals out of the products we use every day.

Natural Gas Pollution: We are opposing the Trump Administration’s attempt to roll back Federal methane rules for new sources, weakening the limits on the amount of methane pollution that the oil and gas industry is allowed to vent, leak and burn. We are demanding strong protections from methane, volatile organic compounds, and other harmful air pollutants associated with fracking and natural gas development.

EPA Budget: We are fighting to ensure the EPA budget is fully funded, opposing the Trump Administration’s proposal to gut its budget by more than 25%.

Fighting to Make Climate Progress:

Clean Energy: We are working to build support at the local, state and federal level to ensure that our energy future is renewable, clean, and healthy — for the sake of our children’s health.

Tell Your Governor: Take the Lead on Climate Action: With America’s departure from the historic Paris Climate Agreement, the responsibility for climate action now falls on others: States, municipalities, businesses, universities and communities. With the federal government surrendering its chance to lead on climate action, our states must be as aggressive as possible in the effort to thwart global warming and protect the health of our children. Let your governor know that you demand climate action and you need them to take the lead.

Illinois electricity generation by source, 2017:

Nuclear (54%)

Coal (32%)

Wind (8%)

Natural Gas (6%)

Coal power plant pollution is responsible for 389 deaths and 285 hospitalizations in Illinois every year, making Illinois the 5th worst state in the country for coal power plant pollution

According to the American Lung Association’s 2018 State of the Air report, nearly 215,000 children in Illinois suffer from asthma

The state of Illinois ranks 8th out of the lower 49 states for health risks from diesel soot

Decatur, Illinois was tied for 1st for the cleanest US cities for ozone air pollution in 2017 by the American Lung Association.

The Clean Air Task force counted 20,333 asthma exacerbation cases in the state of Illinois in 2005

As of 2005, the monetized value of diesel fine particle health impacts in Illinois was $5 billion.

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Members of Moms Clean Air Force Illinois attended the fifth annual Play-In for Climate Action on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC.

June 2018:

Field organizer, Kelly Nichols was facilitator in a meeting with the City of Chicago Department of Health and the South East Side Coalition to Ban Petcoke.

May 2018:

Moms Clean Air Force Illinois members testified at the Manganese Dust Rule Hearing with City of Chicago.

Field organizer, Kelly Nichols joined Ohio field organizer, Laura Burns in Detroit to deliver over 13,000 petition signatures from Moms Clean Air Force members demanding that the big 3 automakers–Ford, Chrysler and GM–continue enforcing Clean Cars Standards.

Field organizer, Kelly Nichols attended the Manganese Town Hall held on the Southeast Side of Chicago as a part of the South East Side Coalition to Ban Petcoke.

April 2018:

Field organizer, Kelly Nichols spoke at a press event called by the U.S. EPA Region 5 local employees union (AFGE 704) around the fact that Scott Pruitt took a secret trip to Indiana without telling community organizers, EPA Staff, or reporters.

Field organizer, Kelly Nichols spoke at a press conference around the redevelopment of the Crawford Coal Plant site in Little Village with the Little Village Environmental Justice Organization, Sierra Club, Jobs With Justice, and other allies.

Moms Clean Air Force Illinois attended and spoke at a press conference in Little Village with the Little Village Environmental Justice Organization.

November 2017:

Field consultant, Kelly Nichols spoke about local air pollution and advocacy to a standing room only crowd at the Highland Park Public Library in Highland Park, IL.

Field consultant, Kelly Nichols testified at an EPA Clean Power Plan hearing held in Charleston, WV.

September 2017:

Moms Clean Air Force Illinois co-hosted a “Southeast Side Play-In for Environmental Justice” to call for clean and healthy community safeguards, including action on the local S.H. Bell bulk materials handling facility, which stores the powerful neurotoxin manganese in large outdoor piles that are blowing into the homes of local residents.

Moms Clean Air Force Illinois members traveled to Washington, DC to meet with lawmakers and urge them to protect EPA’s budget.

Moms Clean Air Force Illinois attended Party for the planet at Brookfield Zoo.

Moms Clean Air Force Illinois attended an environmental justice rally in downtown Chicago with over 100 attendees. Rally speakers included Melissa Mays of Flint, MI, as well as Rev. Rivera of East Chicago.

Moms Clean Air Force Illinois participated in Earth Day of Action Springfield.

Moms Clean Air Force Illinois attended the Illinois Resistance Fair.

March 2017:

Moms Clean Air Force Illinois attended the Loyola Climate Conference.

Moms Clean Air Force Illinois hosted a Town Hall focused on diesel pollution with Little Village Environmental Justice Organization (LVEJO).

Moms Clean Air Force Illinois tabled at Green living fair in Libertyville.

Moms Clean Air Force Illinois attended a press conference hosted by Senator Durbin focused on the nomination of Scott Pruitt to head EPA. Following the press event, field consultant, Kelly Nichols attended a rally with EPA employees in Federal Plaza.

Moms Clean Air Force Illinois attended One Earth Film Fest.

Moms Clean Air Force Illinois tabled at GoGreen Wilmette Fair.

January 2017:

Moms Clean Air Force Illinois attended a rally to oppose the nomination of Scott Pruitt to head EPA.

Moms Clean Air Force Illinois members participated in the Women’s March on Chicago, part of a network of marches held across the country.

Moms Clean Air Force Illinois attended and tabled at the Highland Park Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service Event in Highland Park.

Moms Clean Air Force Illinois hosted a press conference focused on the Clean Energy Incentive Program on the steps of Old St. Pat’s Church with partners: Chicago Youth Alliance for Climate Action, Faith in Place, and Respiratory Health Association.

Field organizer, Kelly Nichols taught a lesson on clean air and children’s health at the Academy for Global Citizenship to Ms. Fyffe’s 3rd grade class.

Field organizer, Kelly Nichols spoke at an Environmental Town Hall on America’s Clean Power Plan with an expert panel from ELPC, NRDC, Illinois Environmental Council, Chicago Botanic Garden, as well as State Senator Julie Morrison, State Representative Elaine Nekritz and State Representative Scott Drury.

Moms Clean Air Force Illinois hosted a “School’s Out Food Drive” contributing to the over 4,542 pounds of food collected by Moms Clean Air Force chapters nationwide.

May 2016:

Field organizer, Kelly Nichols tabled at an event at Piotrowski Park in Chicago with the Little Village Environmental Justice Organization. The event focused on clean air and concerns over diesel pollution.

Field organizer, Kelly Nichols presented a portion of a ReAmp webinar on grassroots tactics and approaches by C3 organizations in an election year.

April 2016:

Field Organizer, Kelly Nichols attended the Environmental Law and Policy Center 2016 Dinner and Celebration in Chicago. Also in attendance were many state and federal legislators (including Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky (IL 09), and Senators Dick Durbin (IL) and Elizabeth Warren (MA)). Kelly was able to meet and connect with Senator Warren who was very pleased to see Moms Clean Air Force in attendance and told Kelly that the work Moms Clean Air Force does is so very important and to keep it up.

Moms Clean Air Force Illinois conducted a Read-In at Gumdrops playgroup in Geneseo.

Moms Clean Air Force tabled at a Guster concert in Des Moines, IA where we talked about methane with concertgoers and got nearly 200 methane cards signed.

Moms Clean Air Force hosted a Clean Air Valentine making party at Gumdrops playgroup in Geneseo, IL.

Moms Clean Air Force hosted a Clean Air Valentine making party at Metropolitan Community Church in Davenport, IA.

January 2016:

Field organizer, Kelly Nichols traveled to Champaign, IL to present at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign on clean air, children’s health, and advocacy. She presented with Union of Concerned Scientists’ Jessica Collingsworth to an environmental law class and a public health and climate change class, taught by Warren Lavey and Dr. Holly Rosencranz, respectively.

December 2015:

Moms Clean Air Force tabled at the Radish Winter Wellness festival in Moline, collecting petitions from parents and pictures from Illinois and Iowa children to call on our officials to act on climate.

Moms Clean Air Force met with Senator Kirk’s and Durbin’s office to present them with cards drawn by Illinois children to thank them both for their commitment to protecting children’s heath through showing support for America’s Clean Power Plan

Moms Clean Air Force participated in a petition drop in Springfield and Chicago to to urge Governor Rauner to support America’s Clean Power Plan.

Moms Clean Air Force attended a Clean Energy Forum at Blackhawk College. Experts from several environmental organizations gave information on America’s Clean Power Plan and on the proposed Illinois Clean Jobs bill. Representative Mike Smiddy attended and provided his insight into overall energy issues in Springfield.

Moms Clean Air Force Illinois conducted an interview with Mayor Nadine Palmgren. The discussion focused on brainstorming ways Moms and the city of Geneseo can work together to promote renewable energy.

Moms Clean Air Force Illinois attended and tabled at the Black Catholic Initiative and Networks for climate and health.

Moms Clean Air Force Illinois hosted a happy hour and participated in an Environmental Justice forum.

October 2015:

Moms Clean Air Force Illinois attended and tabled at a legislative Town Hall. Senator Patricia VanPelt spoke about clean energy and clean jobs for Illinois’ future.

Moms Clean Air Force Illinois and local health professional visited Senator Kirk’s office in Chicago and met with staffer Robert Johnson, who was interested in working further with us and engaging Senator Kirk on climate.

Field organizer, Kelly Nichols attended the Chicago People’s Climate March rally in downtown Chicago. It was amazing, with a lot of organizations collaborating and in attendance. The speakers and the buzz it generated was powerful.

Field organizer, Kelly Nichols attended the Women Supporting Women event with the organization Mom + Baby, where she spoke about Moms Clean Air Force.

Guardians of the Globe Event. Field organizer, Kelly Nichols partnered with the local Pediatric Environmental Health Specialty Unit and Respiratory Health Association to create an event for a high school (Walter Payton College Prep) teaching high schoolers about the health effects of climate change and how they could advocate for themselves.

Field organizer, Kelly Nichols tabled at a clean energy and clean jobs Town Hall with State Sen. Patricia VanPelt, 10/26/15. Kelly tabled at the Town Hall about clean energy and clean jobs at the Garfield Conservatory.

September 2015:

Open Space Celebration. Field organizer, Kelly Nichols spoke at a rally focused on keeping Lake County out of the way of the Rte. 53 extension. Kelly spoke to the concerns the residents of Lake County have about air quality, and how it will be reduced with the influx of more traffic.

Field organizer, Kelly Nichols traveled to Washington, D.C. to join an Illinois/Indiana delegation to testify before the OMB on the smog and ozone level finalization. While in D.C., Kelly met with Jasmine Hunt in Sen. Durbin’s (IL) office, Congressman Dold’s (IL) staff, and did an information drop at Congressman LaHood’s office (IL) and Senator Kirk’s (IL) office.

Clean Energy Forum in Rockford, IL. Moms Clean Air Force Illinois co-sponsored this event along with the Union of Concerned Scientists.

August 2015:

America’s Clean Power Plan Climate Table Event and press conference. Field organizer, Kelly Nichols was in attendance to hear U.S. Rep. Mike Quigley, U.S. Rep. Bobby Rush and Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan and business, public health and faith leaders speak about America’s Clean Power Plan.

EPA Clean Truck Standards hearing. Field organizer Kelly Nichols and “Superteen” Kyla Peck testified in support of stronger regulations on diesel emissions and engine requirements in diesel vehicles. The focus was primarily on children’s health, and Kyla spoke effectively about how her severe asthma is affected by air pollution.

Field organizer, Kelly Nichols participated in a press event in Waukegan with partner group, Clean Power Lake County to celebrate America’s Clean Power Plan. The event was attended by Illinois State Senator Melinda Bush, the chairs of the local chapters of NAACP, and Faith in Place.

Field organizer, Kelly Nichols spoke at “Impactful Strategies: Supporting the Environment”, a discussion co-sponsored by Moms Clean Air Force, League of Women Voters Highland Park/Highwood, Go Green Highland Park, Alliance for the Great Lakes, and League of Women Voters Lake Michigan Region.

Field organizer, Kelly Nichols tabled with “Superteen” Kyla Peck at the first day of a three-day summit at Trinity Lutheran Church on the South side of Chicago.

Field organizer, Kelly Nichols hosted her first annual Illinois Play-In for Climate Action on Thursday, August 27. Partners included: Union of Concerned Scientists, Respiratory Health Association, Illinois Environmental Council, Faith in Place, and Elevate Energy. The crowd of over 40 people gathered in Union Park in downtown Chicago to show support for America’s Clean Power Plan and call for clean energy solutions that improve our state’s air quality and improve children’s health. A press conference with speakers Brian Urbaszewski (Respiratory Health Association), “Superteen” Kyla Peck, Pastor Booker Vance (Faith in Place), and Kelly Nichols followed the kid-friendly fun.

July 2015:

Moms Clean Air Force Illinois co-hosted and organized a Clean Air and Climate Awareness picnic at a public park in Waukegan, Illinois. The event was co-hosted with Clean Power Lake County.

14 Illinoisans attended Moms Clean Air Force’s Play In for Climate Action in Washington, D.C.–including Cheryl Johnson, daughter of Hazel Johnson, Mother of the Environmental Justice movement, who spoke at the press conference. Illinois attendees had the opportunity to voice concerns about air quality and America’s Clean Power Plan with the offices of Senators Kirk and Durbin.

May 2015: Mama Summit 2015 | Moms Clean Air Force Illinois members gathered at the state capitol in Springfield to call on elected officials to take action climate change. Parents met with lawmakers from both sides of the aisle to discuss reducing carbon dioxide emissions, fixing the broken Renewable Portfolio Standard in Illinois, and improving local air quality. The press conference featured powerhouse supermoms Carrie Woodruff and Robin Garlish, who spoke about their children, both of whom suffer from severe asthma. Participants met with Governor Rauner’s adviser for energy and the environment — who reportedly was still wearing his “Mompartisan” button the next day!

May 2015: “Sneezing and Wheezing” Press Conference. Moms Clean Air Force Illinois field organizer, Kelly Nichols spoke at this press conference regarding the release of the NRDC’s “Sneezing and Wheezing” Report about Climate Change and allergies.

April 2015: Moms and Docs Roundtable – Loyola University Chicago – Moms Clean Air Force Supermom, Carrie Woodruff, represented Moms Clean Air Force at the Moms and Docs Roundtable. She spoke to audience members about climate change and health.

May 2014: Mama Summit 2014 | Moms Clean Air Force Illinois members gathered at the state capitol in Springfield to call on elected officials to take action climate change.